HSE Issues Excavator Safety Alert

When other people are working close to construction plant, there is a risk that they can be struck by the machine or any load being carried; where possible, pedestrians should be kept at a safe distance from vehicles. However, this is not always practical, for example, when slinging or unslinging a load, carrying out maintenance work on the plant, etc. In these cases it is important that robust processes are in place to prevent unintended movement of the plant, which could put pedestrians and others at risk.

For this reason, excavators are fitted with an isolation device, sometimes known as a “safety control lever”, which, when engaged, prevents the operator’s joystick(s) from activating the boom, arm or bucket while the machine is at rest (idling).

An incident occurred where an excavator operator inadvertently made contact with the left-hand joystick while leaning out of his cab to communicate with a slinger, causing the excavator to slew and fatally crush the slinger between the quick hitch and a fixed structure. Following this incident, the HSE has issued a safety alert reminding operators to engage the isolation device if there are people in the operational arc of an excavator or similar mobile plant.

It is important that operators are provided with correct instruction and that the use of safety devices is monitored. People working around the plant should also be made aware of the importance of the correct procedures for safely approaching the plant and communicating with the operator to ensure machines can be put in a safe position before they approach.

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